The Time Hopper

Malleability

I was crouched just behind a coal bin, peeking out above it, eyes fixed on the mansion. Sadie was in there, or at least, she had been. It had been three days of this, staring at a building and hoping that a plan or some opportunity would fall from the sky. It was raining, and I was soaked to the skin and cold and tired and hungry, but I couldn't tear myself away. The fear that I was about to loose her was paralyzing. A world without Sadie just didn't make sense to me, she was too loud and proud and abrasive and amazing for her to die, especially at the hands of a monster like Obsidian. 

But I hadn't seen her trying to make a break for it. I hadn't heard her yelling. I hadn't seen Felix carrying her limp body into a carriage or anyone digging a grave in the garden, but that was a small comfort. There were a lot of ways he could be torturing her. 

At this point, my nerves were so frayed that I half wanted to just charge at the mansion and see what happened, which would probably be my death. But no, I was just being stupid. I wouldn't be any good to her dead. 

"Not that I'm any good to her alive either." I muttered to myself. Suddenly, a hand came down onto my shoulder, a dark figure appearing behind me. I leapt to my feet, spinning around with my fists raised, ready to fight. But I didn't need to. 

"Doctor Omega." I breathed, relief flooding through me. I pulled him into a fierce hug. I didn't like him too much, if I was honest, but he was a powerful mage and someone who could actually help me, who could rescue Sadie. He hesitated, but did hug me back after a moment. I pulled away with a wild grin. 

"Hello, my boy. I must say that I don't recognise you." He admitted. I nodded, realising that he had never travelled in time, and therefore I would have to try and explain this all to him. If I was finally going to have a stroke of luck, then he would already be working with Mr Consequences. If not, I would have to try and convince him that I was telling the truth and that the future version of himself would want him to help us. 

"I'm a time traveler. Well, my friend Sadie is the time traveler, I'm just along for the ride. Oh, she's the child of time and Obsivian has her-" I started to ramble, nerves and a growing sense of urgency making me stumble over my words. Omega hushed me, laying a fatherly hand on my shoulder. 

"Easy, easy. I don't know if I'm still around in your time, but I do work with Mr Consequences. We can't stay here, we're already drawing attention from the mansion. I know a lovely pub nearby where we can talk and you can dry off, so come along." 

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I was laid on the bed, staring up at the ceiling blankly. Every few hours, Obsivian would send for me, and make me speak with him. He was trying to win me over, trying to reason his way past my boundaries and soothe my fears about him. It wasn't working, though, or at least, not as quickly as he wanted. I could tell he was getting frustrated, resorting to waking me up constantly, as though being tired would make me go 'alright then, I'll work with you if I can have a nap'. 

Though I was beginning to doubt Mr Consequences, that didn't translate to trusting Obsivian. If anything, I was becoming more steadfast in not wanting anything to do with either of them. 

The door opened, and I rolled over and groaned. 

"No, leave me alone!" I yelled, chucking a cushion at Felix as he came into the room. He caught it and threw it back at me. Even he was beginning to look fed up with this routine, but he wouldn't disobey his master. 

"Come on, its time to go." He sighed, holding out his hand, as he insisted on holding on to me because if he didn't I had to at least attempt an escape. I didn't move, refusing to be part of this anymore. Felix heaved out another sigh, coming over and grabbing my arm to wrench me to my feet. I went limp, just to make things awkward. He cursed me out and slung me over my shoulder, carrying me back to that cursed room. Obsivian was sat at the table, face serious, fingers steeped in front of his mouth, and a book before him.